AZ Alkmaar escape in Dutch Cup

October 29, 2009

AZ Alkmaar needed extra time to take distance from amateur side Spakenburg in the Dutch Cup, while PSV Eindhoven advanced after an away win at Roda JC.

Defending league champions AZ had an extremely difficult time in their home match with Spakenburg, who took an early lead through Thijs Houwing.

It took until the 51st minute for substitute Pontus Wernbloom to equalize, after which Stijn Schaars made it 2-1 in minute 76. Against all expectations however, Christy Bonevacio leveled late on to force extra time.

But in extra time, AZ clearly had more energy than their opponents. Wernbloom, Nick van der Velden and Mounir El Hamdaoui scored for a 5-2 win.

PSV Eindhoven never impressed in the match at Roda JC, but walked away with a 0-2 win. Stanislav Manolev netted the opening goal in the 32nd minute, and Jonathan Reis added a second in the 78th.

FC Twente left it until late to increase the gap with amateur team Capelle. A goal from Luuk de Jong gave Steve McClaren’s men a lead in the 28th minute, but it took until the 88th minute for De Jong to add a second. Nikita Rukavytsya went on to make it 3-0 in added time.

The draw for the round of sixteen will be performed on Thursday, following the match between Dordrecht and Ajax.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: added time, amateur team, Christy Bonevacio, de jong, dordrecht, dutch cup, Eindhoven, extra time, gap, home match, Jonathan Reis, league champions, luuk, Mounir, mounir el hamdaoui, nick van, Nick van der, nikita, Nikita Rukavytsya, roorda, spakenburg, stanislav, Stanislav Manolev, Steve McClaren, Velden

Hoffenheim´s Eduardo receives five-match ban

April 15, 2009

FRANKFURT, Germany (AFP) – Brazilian midfielder Carlos Eduardo will miss all bar two of Hoffenheim’s remaining Bundesliga games after being hit with a five-match ban on Tuesday.

The German Football Federation (DFB) have taken a tough stance with the 21-year-old who was sent off in Hoffenheim’s shock 3-0 defeat at home to Bochum on Saturday for elbowing opponent Philipp Boenig in the chest in the 59th minute.

Hoffenheim ended the game with nine men after goalkeeper Daniel Haas was sent off just two minutes later for hauling down Slovakian striker Stanislav Sestak when he was clear through on goal.

Haas has been banned for three games, but the DFB have come down harder on Eduardo who has a poor recent disciplinary record and will now only be able to play in his club’s final two games of the current season.

Eduardo was sent off for fighting in a friendly against Hamburg on January 14 which earned him suspensions for two league games and three friendly games. Both the club and player have said they will not appeal the decision.

Despite having begun the year as Bundesliga leaders, Hoffenheim are now sixth in the league and are 10 points behind leaders Wolfsburg.